Beauty and the Boss Ep.1 | First-Time Homebuyer Questions Answered by Mortgage Experts

Brett Shapiro — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 13:06:00 +0000

Welcome to the debut episode of Beauty and the Boss!

Hosts Brett Shapiro and Niki Dolin bring over 35 years of combined mortgage experience to answer the most common questions first-time homebuyers ask.

From pre-approvals and credit scores to rates, closing costs, and down payment assistance, Brett and Niki break it all down with clarity and a little humor. Their goal? To help buyers feel informed, confident, and ready to take on one of life’s biggest decisions.

Perfect for first-time buyers, real estate agents, or anyone looking to better understand the mortgage process.

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Chapters

(00:00:10) - Beauty and The Boss
(00:01:08) - The First Time Home Buyer Podcast
(00:02:29) - What is Pre-Approval and Pre-Qualification for
(00:05:20) - How to Get a Home Mortgage
(00:07:55) - Mortgage Review: Credit Score and How to Get a Loan
(00:09:26) - Do You Need a 680 Score to Buy a Home?
(00:12:43) - Mortgage Rate vs APR: What's the Difference?
(00:21:50) - Stanford Bank on Rate Changes
(00:22:43) - Closing Costs
(00:24:04) - Homeowners: Do I Need Homeownership Grant Money?
(00:27:32) - Approval and Inspection
(00:34:56) - When to Buy a Home?
(00:44:42) - Will Rates go down soon?
(00:45:44) - Beauty and The Boss